In performing the anterior drawer test, what position should the foot be in?

• A. Neutral
• B. Plantarflexion
• C. Dorsiflexion
• D. Eversion

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how the ankle is positioned to assess anterior laxity of the joint when doing the anterior drawer test. This test checks the integrity of the anterior talofibular ligament by translating the talus forward relative to the tibia while the hindfoot is stabilized.

Keeping the foot in neutral standardizes the test and gives a baseline situation where you can observe abnormal forward movement without the influence of being bent up or down. Plantarflexion would tighten the ATFL and could change how much the talus moves forward, potentially masking minor laxity or altering the feel of the test. Dorsiflexion changes the tension of other structures and can affect interpretation, while eversion isn’t the motion being tested. So neutral position provides the most consistent way to detect abnormal anterior translation in this assessment.